Ways to Pass the Time
In a season of waiting
At thirty-eight and a half weeks pregnant, I feel like I am poised and ready for that terrifying exhilarating drop that comes after you’ve made the slow climb to the top of the first hill of a roller coaster.
“Baby could come any day now!” people say, as my midwives give me information about going overdue and being induced.
Cool cool.
The time is somehow passing slowly and quickly.
It’s been a beautiful fall and in the golden light of day, filtered by coloured leaves and infused with pumpkin spice, I feel fine and confident and at peace about however the next few weeks might play out.
When it gets dark outside each evening, I get restless and anxious and feel as though I am going to crawl out of my skin and skuttle away from myself. I find myself sitting on the floor in weird positions, desperate to stretch out my restless legs and ease the itchiness of my bones.
I am trying to just embrace the strangeness of this season and enjoy it for what it is.
Here are some ways I’ve been passing the time!
Baking seasonal treats.
I’ve made these pumpkin snickerdoodles several times this autumn and really like them!
This pumpkin spice syrup for my coffee has also been on repeat. I find that following the creator’s recommendation of using whole spices (instead of ground) and following the instructions for straining it creates a thinner syrup with less of a “sludge” as you near the end of your drink. Also, sometimes pumpkin-spice-flavoured things kind of taste like shaving cream to me? …but this syrup doesn’t!
Going hiking.
We stuck to a local trail and we didn’t go far, but it still felt like a lovely autumnal experience for Thanksgiving weekend.
Doing a random deep dive into the kitchen cupboards and freezer and reflecting on my food usage habits.
Apparently, I’m really not great at using up graham crumbs or coconut before repurchasing them. In general, I seem to not do very well at using up the last little bits of stuff. I shall strive to do better to not buy more before finishing what I have.
Inspecting my swollen hands and feet.
One morning while I was journaling I realized that it felt strange to write. My hands felt stiff and tight. Is this… me?
Accepting an invitation to try a new restaurant.
My brother and his wife invited Ricky and I out for supper. We went to an Indian restaurant called Hyderabad Cafe and it was delicious. I already want to go back again.
Doing a mini maternity photo session.
It was so fun to have a professional photographer take some photos of Ricky and me.
Going on a classic library and latte walk.
I’m trying to appreciate the fact that it is simpler for me to get out of the house these days than it presumably ever will be for foreseeable future.
Getting a Costco membership.
This is something Ricky and I have been on the fence about for awhile. We don’t have lots of space to store extra inventory in our apartment, nor do we even need large amounts of stuff. But something about it just seemed like a fun experience to have access to over the coming year, so we finally went ahead with it (even though I got cold feet about it on the drive there to sign up)! A whole new era has begun…
Relating hard to Ramona Quimby.
Drinking two cans of Bubly per day.
Look, I can’t explain to you how this has happened. I didn’t even like Bubly until third trimester hit! I think it was trying the raspberry flavour that got me hooked. Now, thoughts such as “Is it too early in the morning for a Bubly?” cross my mind. I particularly enjoy my Bubly poured into this cup with two ice cubes.
Spending a lovely weekend with my ladies-in-law.
It felt a little daunting to go away from home for a weekend (even though I was only 35 weeks pregnant at that point), but it was a lot of fun and very refreshing to be somewhere different with such great people and get out of my head for a weekend.
And last, but not least…
Crying over board books.
This book is You are my I Love You, by Maryann Cusimano. I don’t know if I will ever be able to read it to my child without crying.
How are you passing these lovely autumn days?
What a lovely post, Jasmine. I enjoyed all the pictures immensely. And you are my true friend if you love Ramona Quimby.
Happy happy birth day to you and your baby and your husband! ❤️